Decorated handbag



Nov. 27, 1945. Q F 2,390,021

DEKGORATED HANDBAG Filed Oct. 51., 1944 Patented Nov. 27, 1945 .DECORATED HANDBAG Charles Wolf, Trenton, N. J., assignor to Plasco, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation f New York Application October 31, 1944, .Serial No. 561,238

5 Claims.

This invention relates to .improvements in the handbag art.

One object of the invention is to provide an improvement relating to handbags of the type having interlaced decorative plastic elements, wherein the lacing is eliminated, but the flexibility and attractive effects are maintained.

Handbags of the type referred to have attained a very substantial popularity because they are decorative in appearance, quite durable, and pos-.

sees substantial flexibility in all directions. But the labor and expense involved in interlacing the decorative, plastic elements has long posed an important problem.

It is therefore an object of the invention to,

provide an improvement in the art whereby decorative elements, of plastic or other rigid material, can be mounted without lacing, and desirably by manipulating a prearranged field of the elements formounting them all in a single operation, whereby the entire outer handbag wall can thus be produced rapidly and efficiently.

In considering any structure and the process involved, practical considerations require, first, that the decorative elements shall not be so changed as to increase their cost of manufacture, because that would offset any gain; and, secondly, that the manner of assembling shall not introduce operations that may result in marring of the decorative elements or in other complications. As to the first of these factors, the decorative elements should be adapted for manufacture in a single operation, or in a simple die or mold, as heretofore, and not require a compound mold or die. The second factor signifies that no bending or other similar operations on exposed parts shall be necessary, which, in the case of plastics requiring heat and pressure, may result in various visible distortions or marks that would render the handbag defective.

It is therefore another object of the invention to furnish an improvement in the art whereby decorative "elements that are easily stripped out distortion, and with the aid of certain base memwas always a tendency for the decorative elements to shift about, .since the lacing tapes were never tight and the bag had to be flexible. Such shifting occurred along the rows and columns of the elements and diagonally thereof, and the resultant untidy, unsymmetrical effect gradually increased with the use of the bag.

It is therefore an .object of the invention to provide an improvement in the art preventing shifting of the decorative in vertical, horizontal and diagonal directions and yet maintaining .a high degree of flexibility in the handbag.

Another object of the invention is to furnish an improvement .in the art whereby a sheet of flexible or. pliable material, such as a cheap piece of textile, can be used for interconnecting a covering .field of decorative elements through preformed openings in the sheet.

It will be understood that where the decorative elements are molded on a cloth, they must be spaced for flexibility of the wall, and hence the backing cloth .cannot .be concealed and is exposed to wear and to .soiling.

An important object of the invention is to .furnish an improvement whereby a series of decorative elements can be secured to a sheet of pliable material by a continuous clamping action along the edges of each element, thus preventing corner portions of the elements from poking outwardly as heretofore.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvement in the art whereby the backing fabric to which the field of decorative elements is fastened or clamped is so arranged as to present a continuous fabric that completely closes "the spaces between the elements, thus avoiding the need for an interlining which is required where there are openings as in the case of a laced bag.

Other objects and advantages 'of the invention will become apparent as the specification pro,- ceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention comprises "the 'novel features, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed-out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated 'in the annexed drawing, wherein like "parts are desig: ,nated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 .is a view in side elevation showing a handbag embodying the invention.

.Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear view of a plastic decorative element according to the invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the method of arranging parts for mounting the plastic decorative element.

Fig. 5 is a plan view indicating certain successive steps in mounting a series of plastic decorative elements, according to the invention, and as differently shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a contracted, fragmentary sectional view of a handbag wall, showing the mounted decorative, plastic elements.

Fig. 7 is a view like that of Fig. 6, but showing a modification of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the layout of a, handbag wall, prior to being fabricated into a handbag.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic fragmentary view of another modification, with parts omitted.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary rear view of another modification.

Referring in detail to the drawing, l denotes a handbag embodying the invention. The same may comprise side walls II, a bottom wall l2, and end walls l3, having decorative elements [4 consisting of a rigid material, preferably plastic. The side and end walls have rows and columns of the elements l4, and of course, the bottom has a plurality of rows of the elements to assure ample capacity in the handbag. The latter may have any suitable closure, such as a slide fastener, not shown.

Each decorative element l4 may be hollow or otherwise concaved to any desired degree, with a front wall 15 and side walls or flanges l6. These flanges need not have the lacing openings heretofore stamped out after the element was removed from the mold, so that the manufacture is simplified. Within the element I4 and extending integrally from the wall 15 are one or more pins, such as a centrally located pin or lu I! which preferably extends a little beyond the flanges I6. At its end, the pin I"! may be concaved at 18 to facilitate a subsequent heading over, but the pin may also be tubular for this purpose.

The elements 14 are disposed on one side of a sheet IQ of flexible or pliable material so as to lie in edge to edge contact with each other, completely covering and concealing that sheet. However, the sheet will be visible at corners of the bag as at 20, and may also be visible where any slight spacing occurs between the decorative elements [4 due to any slack in the sheet or for any other reason. Hence the sheet should be made of a good, attractive material, and may consist of a textile, or of leather or composition fabric, of ample strength for its intended purpose. Sometimes the front walls l of the elements are perforated to show the fabric l9 as a background, andtherefore also the structure of the sheet I9 should afford an attractive and neat facing.

The sheet I9 is provided with preformed openings 2| arranged in rows and columns, but is otherwise preferably imperforate in order to have ample strength vertically, horizontally and diagonally. Through the holes 2| extend the pins l1. On the other side of the fabric I! are disposed individual stiff members 22 for the corresponding decorative elements l4. These members may be made of any suitable material, but I have found fiber board to be wholly satisfactory because of its lightness, this material being like cardboard, but a great deal stiffer and stronger,

and unaffected by moisture due to the compositions with which it is impregnated. These members 22 are preferably of the same size and shape as the decorative elements l4, though they are desirably slightly smaller but not so small as to permit them to enter the elements in any manner. Each member 22 is formed with an opening 23 registering with the adjacent pin If, the latter having its concaved end l8 headed over as shown at 24 to thus rigidly permanently connect the base member to its decorative element.

Preferably the connection between the decorative element l4 and its base member 22 is such that the pin I1 is under tension. This tension may be sulficiently great to slightly inwardly convex the member. Since the flange edges of the decorative element support the member 22 all around, the stiffness of the latter is high and its 'flexure is somewhat exaggerated in the drawing. Therefore a powerful clamping action is obtained on the fabric l9 at the regions 24a. This clamping is suflicient to prevent any shifting of the decorative elements along the fabric, so that the elements may be said to be thus positioned independently of the spaced holes 2i of the fabric. Hence those holes may be made sufficiently larger than the pins ll to assure quick and easy register of the same with the holes 21.

By reason of the clamping engagement between the decorative elements 14 and the fabric l9 along all or parts of the edges of the elements, the corners of the latter are so held as to avoid the poking out effect heretofore obtained with lacing. The elements are restrained at all points by the backing sheet l9, as each element is pref erably continuously marginally secured to the backing sheet.

There are no openings visible in the backing fabric H! at corners such as 20 or at points where othe decorative elements may otherwise slightly separate. Even if the front walls l5 should be decoratively perforated, the fabric l9 would ap pear as a neat, continuous and attractive memher, because the openings at 2| may be spaced from such perforations and hence invisible. Therefore an interlining which was necessary with laced bags to cover up any padding or the like that is sometimes used in the walls of handbags can be omited. Other than the sheet [9, there need only be the regular handbag lining 25. If more of the sheet I9 is to be seen as a background for the plastic elements M then some slack may be provided in the sheet between the elements, as by spacing the latter a little. Otherwise, the members 22 tend to slightly concave the backing sheet 19 into the elements and create a tension in the sheet, whereby the elements are drawn into snug contact with each other. Nevertheless the flexibility of the wall is maintained, because the pliable sheet l9 forms hinges between the elements at all sides thereof and permits the wall to easily bulge outwardly due to the contents of the handbag.

It will be appreciated that the marginal clamping engagement at 24a may be obtained regardless of the specific nature of the fastening between elements I4 and their base members 22. Useful results may be obtained without such marginal engagement, in which case the openings 2| in the sheet 19 are the effective means for positioning or spacing the decorative elements. In either case the sheet I9 has ample strength along the rows and columns and diagonally thereof to prevent shifting of the decorative with 'the"thawing. Compound molds such as would complete. Fig.8 can be made, adapted. to be readilyforined the "resultant untidy effects often "cbservea 'm "j he in'aiiher df'sr'duueingjand asst-settling the wan striictiiie'rererrea "to 'willbefiescribed, after which it'will be" readily unscrew-n new a handbag'is made therefrom. The ecorative elements 11"4 can be made in a simple itiol'd item which they are easiiy stripped because "ample drains provided "which need not 'be SHdWll in,

be necessary in forming an undercutfo'r {a snap ii i aa r newa emeei, an its baseinmbe'r 22 are not required. As in Fig. 4, a

f'shet f9 is i placed over a base: member 22,' with the bpeningsz'i and 23 in' re gis te'rpand then'the decorative element I4 is applied with its pin l1 passing throughfsaidfholes. Finally a heated member engages the end of the-pin, softens and 'headsjit over whileithe meinber 22 is centrally pressedand convexed toward the element to provide a tension for clamping the sheet H! as at "23. :By 'coo'ling the plastic while the pressure is maintained there is no opportunity for a release of theplastic. No m'arring or distortion of the plastic decorative elements is caused because onlyfthepins H are heated, and these are not visible in the completed handbag.

The-process described lends itself to mass assembling, Thus, according to Fig. 5, a field of base members 22 is laid out in proper relationto each other in a suitable form or platen that may have recesses 'for the individual members, if necessary. Then a large-sheet E9 is placed over all the members 22 with the openings 2! and 23 heads 24 allowed to cool 'or-th'e hardening accelerated-by a cooling fluid, after'which the wall 'is By this Iprocessa wall such as '26 in into a handbag. The =apparatusre'ferred tois considered to be self evident from the descrip- "tion and hence is not shown in the --'drawing.

The wall2 of Fig. 8 shows side walls H and bottoinwall 1-2 for the bag, the end walls [3 being each provided by a pair of sections 13a. The handbag is produced by folding the Wall 26 on the dot-dash fold lines 21, 28, as will be readily apparent. The sheet l9 projects on all sides beyond the field of decorative elements indicated by the walls ll, 12 and 53a, and is slitted at 29 up to the bottom wall to form small rectangular sections 30. As the folding proceeds on lines 21, 28, the sections 39 are turned upward, the sections |3a are brought together and the projecting portions 3| of sheet l9 are seamed together and to the adjacent section 33 as at 32 to form a bag. Finally a lining 25 and the stringers 33 of a slide fastener 34 are sewn at 35 to the other projecting sections 36 of the flexible sheet 19, the lining being then inserted into the bag with the portions 38 folding inward as shown in Fig. 6. Any other mode of making a wall such as 26 into a bag may be followed, the object here being to show how a fabrication is possible which cannot be practised with a laced bag, where each 'within tlie'decorative elements, instead of at the "edges of g the flanges thereof.

tape ii'lilst be individually anchored, or secured "to astifierier member onto which the lining may beco'rinected. "Here the sheet l9 may be utilized a'sd'ntheconveiitionalmannerof making-a bag, for example, wholly out of cloth, and without using any plastic decorative elements.

As"producedherein,thehandbag it! has only 'asir'ig lelinin'g 25,;b'etween which the sheet is and"ahysiiitabl'epadding may be placed, if rcn 'rettwitn utshbwing orpushing out through as intnewan. Hence an interlinin'g is avoided. p h

InFigC'I isshowna'modific'ation of the invention which is different solely in that the clamping of the flexible backing sheet "occurs Hence the base members 31 are smanertnan those at "22 and continuous clamping as at 39. Here the clamping may be more powerful than at 24a, and the pinne'e'd'riot be under any substantial tension, so "that thew' all can be removed after the heads 25 are formed without waiting for them to cool. But the fabric 38 is subject to considerable distortion and contraction so that an entire field of elements cannot be assembled and headed at f24,' b1it only one or 'two rows of the elements may civing' the four pins of its decorative element.

Each'opening "M is centered on an intersection of four elements t2, and hence receives a cornerpin of each. Then the base members 44 are applied for their individual elements 42, to receive the pins 43, which are thereupon headed over as at '24. A clamping engagement as at 26a o'r39"may be obtained. Intermediate of the holes "4|, the narrow sections of the backing sheet id appear like tapes when they show through spaces between that may occur between the elements 32. But in this structure, an interlining is necessary, the corners of the elements will tend to poke outward, the backing sheet is weakened by the size of the holes 4|, but the lacing operation is eliminated as well as the tendency of the elements to shift about as in laced bags.

It will be appreciated that in the principal form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7, there is no straining or tearing of the flexible backing sheet at the holes thereof, since the sheet is independently secured by the clamping action of the resilient members 22. The pins I! may be regarded as exemplifying any headed or undercut securing means.

Fig. 10 shows a modification 45 which is exactly like the structure of Figs. 1 to 6 except that the base member 46 is round to facilitate handling in course of assembling. Here the clamping action is more limited in area, avoiding straining of the sheet member I9 at the corners due to bulging of the bag wall. This is therefore the preferred form of the invention.

The preferred method of assembling the bag is to apply the plastic elements such as [4 solely between the lines 21, leaving the sections l3a blank. The latter are sewn together as hereinbefore described at 30, 32, to form a bag, and then plastic elements M are applied to the sections l 3a by engagement with their base members as previously described. Thus the seaming is easier to perform.

I claim:

1. A decorative, flexible handbag material including a field of oblong, interfltted, box-like decorative elements molded of plastic material and each being fully open at th rear thereof, said elements having rearward extending projections substantially wholly therein, disposed inwardly of the side walls of the elements, and sheeting means interconnecting the elements at the rear thereof and cooperating therewith to produce a continuous, flexible, decorative handbag material, said flexible sheeting means being perforated to receive the projections and the latter being headed over thereon, the flexible sheeting means having sections consisting of relatively stifi ma-- terial having outer edges disposed in relatively close proximity to the side walls of the individual elements and within the areas of the respective elements to cause the side walls of the elements to snugly bear at their free edges against the sheeting means.

2. A decorative, flexible handbag material including a field of interfitted, molded decorative elements, said elements being of generally boxlike form fully open at the rear face and having rear projections disposed inward of the side walls of the elements, relatively stiff backing members for the elements, and a rear facing member extending continuously between the backing members and the elements, the projections passing through holes in the facing member and in the backing members and being headed over on the latter to permanently secure the same, the backing members being so related to the decorative elements that the free edges of the side walls of the decorative elements are caused to snugly bear against the facing member.

3. A decorative handbag material including a field of oblong, interfitted, box-like decorative elements of molded plastic fully open at the rear and having rearward extending projections substantially wholly therein connected to the front Walls of the elements and being disposed inward of the side walls thereof, the side walls having generally free rear edges, relatively stifl' backing members for the elements perforated to receive the projections, and a pliant sheet member extending continuously between the decorative elements and the backing members and having holes receiving the projections, the latter being headed over on the backing members for clamping the sheet member therebetween, the backing members being of such size as to cause the side walls of the elements to snugly clamp against the sheet member at the free edges of the side walls, and the backing members being resiliently deformed inwardly of the latter to increase such clamping, whereby the decorative elements are adapted to maintain continuous marginal contact with the sheet member.

4. Decorative handbag material including a box-like element made of molded plastic and having a decorative front wall and side walls leaving the element fully open at the rear thereof, said element having a projection within the same integrally connected to the front wall and being disposed inward of the side walls, a resilient backing member of fiberboard, and a member of pliable sheet material between the backing member and the element, said members having openings for receiving the projection with the latter being headed over on the backing member, and the backing member cooperating with the element to cause the sheet member to be clamped therebetween at the otherwise free edges of the side walls, and the backing member being laterally tensioned by the projection and being thus resiliently deflected inwardly of the element for an increased clamping of the sheet member at said edges.

5. Decorative, flexible, handbag material including a field of closely interfitted box-like decorative elements consisting of molded plastic and being fully open at the rear thereof, and sheeting means interconnecting the elements at the rear thereof to form the latter into a continuous decorative sheet, the elements having projections located substantially Wholly therein in spaced relation to the side walls of the elements and extending rearward, said means including backing portions perforated to receive the projections and the latter being headed over thereon to thus cause the elements to be secured to the sheeting means, the backing portions consisting of a fiber-boardlike material extending to the edges of the side walls of the elements and being resiliently depressed into the elements whereby the free edges of their side walls are caused to snugly clamp against the sheeting means, and the latter cooperating with the elements so that the connection between different elements is flexible in character.

CHARLES WOLF. 

